Dispensing apparatus for vending machines



Nov. 8, 1938. F. w. HOBAN DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR VENDING MACHINESFiled May 25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN'IA'OR Fairfield W Hoban MATTORNEY NOV. 8, 1938. w HQBAN 2,135,665

DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed May 25, 1956 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fairfild W Hoban MFLM H- 1M M ATTORNEY Nov. 8,1938. F. w. HOB'AN 2,135,665

DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed May 25, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Fairfie/d W Hoban WELLS, HIM

M ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1938 v UNITED STATES.

nrsrmvsnvo mmros ron mums memes Fairiield W. Roban, New York, N. Y.,alsignor to Stewart and McGuire, Incorporated, New York, N. I, acorporation of New York Application Hay Z5, 1936, Serial No. 81,594

10 Claim (Cl. 221107) a My invention relates to means for dispensingcommodities or merchandise, such as nuts or the like, and the same hasfor'its object to provide a simple, reliable and efiicient apparatuswhich is capable of being rotated when released by suitable coincontrolled mechanism for dispensing or delivering one or more measuredquantities of the commodity, depending upon the valueofthe coininserted.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus ofthe character specified in which .the coin controlled mechanism may bereadily disengaged or separated from the dispensing mechanism to allowthe independent removal of the former for repairs or the like.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus ofthe character specified in which the carrier thereof comprisesrelatively adjustable parts for regulating the size of the commodityreceiving pockets therein and controlling the quantity of commodity tobe dispensed.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus ofthe character specified in which a dispensing drum includes pocketsshaped to cause the complete discharge of the commodity therefrom bygravity upon rotation of the drum about its horizontal axis.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of thecharacter specified in which the dispensing drum or carrier thereof ismounted to allow limited movement of the actuating shaft back and forthrelatively thereto for controlling a scavenger.

Other objects will in part be obvious, and in part be pointed outhereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, my inventionconsists in the novel features of construction, and in the combination,connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described andthen pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts in section of one form ofapparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying my saidinvention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof through the dispensing drum onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section thereof on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation thereof with parts in section taken on theline 5-5 of Fig. 1;

.Fig. 6 is a sectional plan thereof taken on the line 8-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section of a modified form of dispensing carrieror drum taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 8; 5

Fig. 8 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section thereof; and

Fig. -10 is a transverse section thereof on the line |i|||| of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 6, the 10 coin controlledmechanism It is shown applied to a vending or dispensing means fordispensing or delivering merchandise, such as candy, nuts or similararticles in loose form and in measured quantities in accordance with thevalue of the. 15 coin inserted. The apparatus controlled'by themechanism iii comprises rotatable means including a carrier or drum i2mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis below the open dischargeend of a hopper I3 for receiving the com- 20 modities, the drum I! beingprovided with pockets 4 adapted to successively register with the hopperfor receiving the commodity therefrom. The drum I2 is preferably securedfor rotation upon suitable shafting i5 having a bearing 16 at the 25front in a support or bridge II, the rear end of the shafting i5 beingjournaled in a suitable support, such as the rear wall of the casing "aemployed to enclose the mechanism or apparatus. The shafting l5 has anactuating member or knob 30 It at the front end thereofadapted to berotated in a clockwise direction.

To facilitate the assembly of the apparatus within its usual casing, andits removal there-' from, the shafting i5 preferably consists of alined35 sections l9 and 20 while the drum i2 carried thereby preferablyconsists of two telescoping sections 2| and 22 in adjustable slidingengagement with each other to allow adjustment of the size of thepockets. The forward shaft section i9 40 carries the coin controlledmechanism l0 and is rotatably supported in the bridging member l1 andretained against axial movement therein by said mechanism I0 and theknob i 8. The rear end -of the shaft section -|9 receives the forward 45section 2| of the drum I 2 which is provided for this purpose with anaxial sleeve or hub 23.

The drum section 2|, in the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1to 6, is provided with a collar 24 having a slot 25 therein receivingthe pin 50 26 secured to the shaftsection i9, whereby to provide aslight loss-motion between the actuating shaft i9 and the drum i2. v

The control mechanism i0 ispreferably of the type disclosed and claimedin my copending application, Serial No. 56,558, filed December 28, 1935,and includes a movable scavenger 21 supported upon the member I1 andactuated by the dog 28 upon the initial rotation of the actuating memberl8. During this initial movement of the shaft IS the pin 25 rides in theslot 25 without moving the drum i2, but upon continued move- -ment ofthe actuator l8, provided a good'coin has released the lockingmechanism, the pin 25 engages the collar 24 to initiate the rotation ofthe drum. .The construction above described insures full quantitydispensation of the commodity from the successive pockets |4 withoutcausing clogging or jamming of the apparatus because of the particles orpieces of the commodity becoming caught between the relatively rotatableparts of the apparatus during the scavenging operation.

The member 'I'I disposed transversely of and upon the shaft section l8together with said shaft section, said mechanism i8 and said scavenger21 as a unit is secured in place within the casing I'm in any suitablemanner, such as by securing the member I at the lower portion llbthereof forming a passage for the coins, by means of a screw "c to theforward end of a shaft lld secured at the rear end thereof by a screw "eto the casing l'ia. Upon removing the screw "c, which is accessiblethrough an opening "if in the passage portion "D, the shaft section l8may be readily disengaged from the drum section 2| and the unitwithdrawn from the casing of the vending machine.

The rear drum section 22 interfits the front drum section 2| incomplementary relation thereto and is provided with an axial collar 28at the rear thereof adapted to receive the forward end of the shaftsection 28 which is secured in the sleeve 23 of the forward drum section2| and forms an abutment 88 for locating the inner end of the shaft IS.The drum section 22 is capable of being slid along the shaft section 28to vary the length of the pockets I4 and is secured in any adjustedposition by means of the set screws 8|a.

The intermediate portion of the operating means or shafting I5 is alsopreferably supported by a member or hanger 82 attached to the hopper i3and depending therefrom, said member 82 having an annular end portion82a receiving the collar 24 formed on the forward end of the drum i4.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein the lower end of thehopper i8 is arcuately shaped to correspond in outline with that of thedrum 4 which interfits the same. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the lateralwall of the hopper at the side towards which the drum rotates at itslower end has a clearance or opening 38 therein closed by spring membersor gates 84 which wipe over the periphery of the drum as the successivepockets l4 are brought into discharging relation to the lateral chute 25for delivering the commodity to the purchaser. The gates 84 preventclogging or jamming during rotation of the drum because of theprojection of pieces of the commodity above the drum, and cause excesspieces of the commodity to be swept back into the hopper.

Efliciency in the operation of the drum is also enhanced by theprovision of means 35 within the hopper I8 contiguous to the drum l4 anddirectly in advance of the gates 24 for yieldably holding the head ofnuts or other commodity within the hopper from crowding against thegates, and thus interfering with the discharging operation. Such means84 preferably consists of a coil spring stretched across the hopper inadvance of the ates and secured at the ends to suitable brackets 81 uponthe hopper.

The axially adjustable telescopic drum sections 2| and 22 (Figs. 1 to 8)each consists of an integrally formed die casting. The member 2|comprises a central hub forming the sleeve 28 and the longitudinalradial vanes or partitions 88 forming the pockets |4 therebetween. Thevanes 58 are substantially triangular in cross-section, progressivelydecreasing in cross-section towards the hub or sleeve 22 to formcorrespondingly tapering pockets |4 having relatively wide floors orbases 88. The forward end of the member 2| is closed by an integrallyformed wall portion 40 while the rear endsv of the pockets M are open,as indicated at 4|, in order to receive the complementary member 22.

The member 22 comprises the hub 28 having the end web 42 provided withthe circumferentially arranged forwardly directed hollow portions 48shaped to be received into and fit the open ends of the tapering pocketsl4 in the member 2| and having the inwardly tapering spaces 44therebetween for receiving and fitting the rear portions of the taperingpartitions 88. The axial ends 45 of the portions 42 form an interruptedannulus for clearing the hub portion 28 and fitting snugly against thefloors or bases 38 of the pockets |4. Thetransverse vertical end walls45 of the several portions 43 form the rear walls of the pockets i4. Theseveral hollow portions 43 are open, as shown at 45, at the rear thereofthrough the web 42 for facilitating the casting and minimizing theweight thereof.

In Figs. 7 tov I have illustrated a modified form of telescopic drum |2ain which the pockets |4a are shaped to facilitate the complete dischargeof the commodity therefrom when the pockets are brought into dumping ordischarging positions. In this construction the forward telescopicmember 2|a includes the hub portion 41 providing the central or axialsleeve 48 having the fiat 48 for receiving the rear end of thecorrespondingly shaped shaft I! whereby the drum |2a is keyed to saidshaft. The rear end of the sleeve 48 receives the forward end of theshaft 28 which is sweated in place therein and forms an abutment at 50for locating the inner end of the shaft l8. This construction allows theshaft l8 together with the control mechanism thereon to be readilyremoved from the drum |2a as in the case of the construction illustratedin Figs. 1 to 6.

The integrally formed casting 2|a comprises a plurality of longitudinalvanes or partitions 5| projecting outwardly from the hub 41 and formingthe pockets |4a therebetween. The vanes 5| each has at one side thereofa substantially flat following surface 52 disposed substantiallytangential to the hub 41 and at the opposite side thereof has asubstantially fiat advancing surface 53 of less depth than the surface52 and extending inwardly at an acute angle to the opposite surface 52.The relatively deep fiat surface 52 of each vane 5| merges with thecontiguous or opposing surface 53 of the following vane through a radius54, the pocket |4a between succeeding vanes ll being defined by thesurfaces 52 and 53 and the intervening radius 54 at the juncturethereof.

The successive pockets |4a as thus formed comprise a relatively deepfiat, advance or lower wall portion 52 which extends downwardly andoutwardiy in the discharging position of the pocket as indicated at A,Fig. 7, and an upper side 53 having an angular relation to the surface62 such that it extends outwardly substantially horizontal in saiddischarging position A.

The co-operating integrally formed telescoping member He. is similar tothe corresponding member 22- described in connection with Figs. 1, to 6,except that the interfltting portions I5 and the intervening recesses 56therebetween correspond respectively in shape with the pockets a andpartitions 5i and interflt therewith to complete the pockets The member2la may be secured in various adjusted positions along the shaft III tovary the size of the pockets a.

By my invention I provide a novel form of rotary drum or carrier fordispensing commodities such as nuts, candy and the like adapted to berotated by an actuator when the same is released by the coin, thecontrol mechanism being readily removable or disengageable from thecarrier or drum Further, the drum structure embodying my said inventionconsists of pocket forming parts interfitting for joint rotation andcapable of being relatively adjusted axially to vary the capacity orsize of the several pockets in the drum.

Further, the relationship between the opposing surfaces of each pocketis such that the commodity is effectively dumped out or discharged bygravity when the pocket attains its discharging position as shown at A(Fig. 7) to minimize the possibility of some of the commodity remaininglodged in or sticking to the walls of the pockets particularly when thecommodity consists of salted nuts or the like liable to otherwise adhereto thesurfaces of the pockets.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support including ahopper, a dispensing drum below said hopper having an axial sleeveextending therethrough and terminating in a projecting collar at thefront thereof, a shaft secured within the rear portion of said sleeveand projecting rearwardly from" said drum, a bearing on the support forsaid shaft, control means carried by said support for removal there fromincluding an actuating shaft removably disposed and keyed within saidsleeve in abutting relation to the inner end of said first named shaftfor rotating said drum, and means on the support extending under saidcollar for supporting the forward end of the drum upon the removal ofsaid actuating shaft therefrom.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support including ahopper, a dispensing drum below said hopper having an axial sleeveextending therethrough, a shaft secured within the rear portions of saidsleeve and projecting rearwardly from said drum, a bearing on thesupport for said shaft, and control means carried by said supportincluding an actuating sleeve, means on said support for journallingsaid shaft, and a pin on said shaft disposed in said slot for actuatingsaid drum with said shaft, said slot allowing said limited movement ofsaid actuating shaft relative to said drum. I

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support including ahopper, a dispensing drum below said hopper having an axial sleeveincluding a projecting collar, shafts received in said sleeve atopposite ends thereof, the shaft at the collared end of said sleeveconstituting a drum actuating member axially removable from said sleeve,means on the support for supporting said shafts, and a depending memberon the support having an annular portion receiving said collar forsupporting the forward end of the drum upon removal of saidlast-mentioned shaft.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support including ahopper, a horizontally disposed dispensing drum below said hopper havingan axial sleeve including a projecting collar, an actuating shaftremovably keyed to said drum within said sleeve at the collared endthereof, a shaft secured in said sleeve at the opposite end thereof,means for journalling the shafts on the support, and a dependingsupporting member on the support having an annular portion at the lowerend thereof receiving said collar for supporting the forward end of thedrum uponremoval of the actuating shaft.

6. Apparatus of the character described com prising a support includinga hopper, a dispensing drum below said hopper having an axial sleeveextending therethrough, a shaft secured within the rear portion of saidsleeve and having a bearing on said support, an actuating shaftremovably disposed within said sleeve at the forward portion thereof, atransverse member connected to said support and providing a bearing forsaid last named shaft and retained thereon for removal therewith as aunit, control means including co-operating parts disposed upon thelast-named shaft and said transverse member for removal therewith, andmeans engageable with the forward end of said drum for supporting thesame upon removal of said unit.

'7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, a hoppermounted thereon, a dispensing drum having an axial sleeve below saidhopper, a shaft secured within said sleeve at one end and forming anabutment at the inner end thereof, a bearing for said shaft on theframe, an actuating shaft disposed within said sleeve at the oppositeend in abutting relation to said first named shaft. said actuating shaftbeing keyed to said drum and axially removable therefrom, a transversemember having a bearing for said actuating shaft and retained thereonfor removal therewith as a unit, means for detachably securing saidmember to said frame, and mechanism including co-operating partsdisposed upon said actuating shaft and said member for removaltherewith.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, a hopperthereon, a dispensing drum having an axial sleeve disposed below saidhopper, a shaft secured within said sleeve at one end, a bearing forsaid shaft on the frame, an actuating shaft keyed within said sleeve atthe other end thereof and axially removable therefrom, a bearing on theframe for said actuating shaft, and means co-operating with said drum atthe last mentioned end thereof for supporting said end upon thedisengagement of the actuating shaft therefrom. I

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support including ahopper, a dispensing drum having an axial sleeve disposed upon thedetachment of said actuating shaft therefrom.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support includinga hopper. a dispensing drum disposed below said hopper includinsinteri'ltting, axially adjustable members, one of said members having anaxial sleeve open at its opposite ends and a shaft secured within saidsleeve at one end, and the other of said members including a collarreceiving said shaft and 10 adjustabiy secured thereto, an actuating'shaft removabiy inserted within said sleeve at the opposite end thereofand connected thereto for rotating said drum, and means for journallingsaid shafts upon said support.

FAIRFELD W. HOBAN.

